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Three women create nonprofit to rebuild Island Park playground

by Sia Nyorkor

KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

11:00 PM CDT, March 17, 2013

(Winfield,Kan.)

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Smoke and flames could be seen for miles as fire destroyed the Island Park playground in Winfield.

This is the second time fire has destroyed the playground.

As fire investigators work to find out who set the fire, others are trying to figure out ways to rebuild what was destroyed.

Kelli Grant got the news about in the middle of the night.

"I just said oh no and was very upset, couldn't sleep," said Grant.

The playground was destroyed Thursday night after witnesses reported smoke and flames.  Firefighters say the playground is a total loss---with about $700,000 in damage.

This is the second time the island park playground has been destroyed. 5 years ago, flames burned for days as the playground was reduced to ashes.

A Winfield teen was responsible for starting that fire in 2008.

Volunteers rebuilt it in 2009.  Grant says she'd like to do the same. 

"My mind was going and I tend to focus on positive outcomes and so I immediately knew we were gonna do something, I didn't know what but we were gonna do something," she said.

The Winfield native rounded up two other friends and started a Facebook page: Save & Rebuild Island Park. in less than 3 days, the page has taken off and is officially a nonprofit organization. 

Grant started the fund by putting $100 of her own money in it. All money raised and donated will go towards rebuilding the park. 

"One thing I know is that the community near and far is gonna come together and fix this. We all are strongly committed so I know that this will not be a local effort, this will be a community effort," she said.

Winfield Police suspect the fire is arson but have not arrested any suspects.

Eyewitness News expects to hear more about the investigation on Monday.

Three women create nonprofit to rebuild Island Park playground